ADF4106
Data Sheet
GENERAL DESCRIPTION
REFERENCE INPUT SECTION
A COUNTER AND B COUNTER
The reference input stage is shown in Figure 17. SW1 and SW2
are normally closed switches. SW3 is a normally open switch.
When power-down is initiated, SW3 is closed and SW1 and
SW2 are opened. This ensures that there is no loading of the
REFIN pin on power-down.
The A counter and B CMOS counter combine with the dual
modulus prescaler to allow a wide ranging division ratio in the
PLL feedback counter. The counters are specified to work when
the prescaler output is 325 MHz or less. Thus, with an RF input
frequency of 4.0 GHz, a prescaler value of 16/17 is valid, but a
value of 8/9 is not valid.
POWER-DOWN
CONTROL
Pulse Swallow Function
The A counter and B counter, in conjunction with the dual-
modulus prescaler, make it possible to generate output
frequencies that are spaced only by the reference frequency
divided by R. The equation for the VCO frequency is
100k
NC
SW2
TO R COUNTER
REF
IN
NC
BUFFER
SW1
f
REFIN
R
f
P B
A
VCO
SW3
NO
where:
Figure 17. Reference Input Stage
f
VCO is the output frequency of the external voltage controlled
oscillator (VCO).
RF INPUT STAGE
The RF input stage is shown in Figure 18. It is followed by a
2-stage limiting amplifier to generate the CML clock levels
needed for the prescaler.
P is the preset modulus of the dual-modulus prescaler
(8/9, 16/17, etc.).
B is the preset divide ratio of the binary 13-bit counter
1.6V
BIAS
(3 to 8191).
AV
GENERATOR
DD
A is the preset divide ratio of the binary 6-bit swallow
500
500
counter (0 to 63).
f
REFIN is the external reference frequency oscillator.
RF
RF
A
B
IN
N = BP + A
IN
TO PFD
13-BIT B
COUNTER
LOAD
FROM RF
INPUT STAGE
PRESCALER
P/P + 1
LOAD
6-BIT A
COUNTER
AGND
MODULUS
CONTROL
Figure 18. RF Input Stage
N DIVIDER
PRESCALER (P/P +1)
The dual-modulus prescaler (P/P + 1), along with the A counter
and B counter, enables the large division ratio, N, to be realized
(N = BP + A). The dual-modulus prescaler, operating at CML
levels, takes the clock from the RF input stage and divides it
down to a manageable frequency for the CMOS A counter and
B counter. The prescaler is programmable. It can be set in soft-
ware to 8/9, 16/17, 32/33, or 64/65. It is based on a synchronous
4/5 core. There is a minimum divide ratio possible for fully
contiguous output frequencies. This minimum is determined by
P, the prescaler value, and is given by (P2 − P).
Figure 19. A and B Counters
R COUNTER
The 14-bit R counter allows the input reference frequency to
be divided down to produce the reference clock to the phase
frequency detector (PFD). Division ratios from 1 to 16,383
are allowed.
Rev. E | Page 10 of 24